Anikan Skywalker played by Hayden Christensen

Hopefully he'll do better in Ep III and prove the critics wrong, who pretty universely tore him up.

Hopefully fans will quit putting importance in negativity from the critics and decide for themselves how they feel about these movies.

For some reason the hardcore fans of the OT do not seem to like the new trilogy.

I have been into STAR WARS since before the first time I saw a STAR WARS movie in 1977. I am fully and equally enjoying the Prequels.

Hayden did a GREAT job as Anakin.

Yes he did.

 

My initial reaction on 5-16-02 was that Hayden's acting performance was #2 in the saga. Only Harrison Ford in ESB was better, IMO.

He perfectly captured the brashness, vulnerability and emotion Anakin's character required at this stage in the story.

I thought there were times Hayden may have overacted a bit, but I think within the context of the story, it wasn't inappropriate. He is a wonderful talent and still remains the perfect choice to be Anakin.

 

royalguard, I agree. Hayden is almost as good as Harrison and I'm expecting a lot Hayden's performance in EpIII.

Young Harrison and Hayden - they both just make me drool...

 

I think that Hayden has the spoiled, petulant Anakin part down pat, but his acting during the love scenes was pretty tragic. I think he got the role mostly because he is tall like Darth Vader from the original Trilogy. His acting just strikes me as wooden and unpolished, a little over the top. I don't think that Leo is tall enough for the role, though he is a better actor. I thought he was very good in "Catch me if you can." No one has talked about using Orlando Bloom as Anakin. I think that he would have been good, though in real life his work on LOTR likely would have prevented him from playing the part.

 

While I'm sure there are certain unknwon actors that could have been a good Anakin, none of them would have been as good as Hayden. I just thank Lucas for not hiring Colin Hanks (nothing against him but he just isn't good enough to play such a tragic and complex character like Anakin). Hayden was brilliant - certainly the greatest acting performance in the film. And I thought he was good in the love scenes - especially the fireplace scene (I know many disagree). But he is of course at his best in the tusken slaughter scene. At that point of the film I wasn't sure how I felt about Hayden's performance but once I saw that scene I was convinced that the future Darth Vader had entered. He'll be awesome in the final chapter where we will of course see more of what he does best - show his anger and hatred.

 

Im sure ill get flamed for this but........... I thought Haydens acting was terrible and that there was no chemistry whatsoever with Natalie. Those lines where hes whining about OBI not letting him move on.....I was cringing....

 

"Im sure ill get flamed for this but........... I thought Haydens acting was terrible and that there was no chemistry whatsoever with Natalie. Those lines where hes whining about OBI not letting him move on.....I was cringing...."

You won't get flamed for stating your opinion. It is your opinion that they were poor just like my opinion is that they were brilliant. And I do disagree about the chemistry. They had a lot of chemistry and I for one truly believed they were in love. Their love story is much more realistic than Han and Leia's. And the sentences about Obi Wan are important in building up the greatest action scene ever seen on film when the two friends duel. It wasn't the film's greatest line although I didn't see anything wrong with it.

 

Maybe the problem isn't the actors but George Lucas' heavy handed writing of love scenes. He seems to have a very good grasp of the techinical aspects of movie making but his love story scenes certainly do elicit alot of cringing. Maybe he needs a ghost writer or proof reader for those scenes.

 

y'know i agree with vader in one regard. hayden played a whiny biotch. maybe it was the character, but i hate those whining scenes. but i think he'd be better than leo dicaprio, but not better than orlando bloom.

 

there was alot of sexual tension between ani/ami....thats why i think it seemed uncomfortable to watch...but then again, ill probably change my opinion later...so take this statement with a grain of salt

 

The love scenes were written to be old-fashioned in style. It worked well for me; I like how Lucas sets the love story apart in tone from the '30s screwball style used with Han and Leia.

Anyway, I absolutely adore Hayden as Anakin. He really impressed me and as far as I'm concerned, he has made that role his own. Even now, whenever I watch the confession scene, I'm just mesmerized. I can hardly wait to see what he'll do in Eppy III.

--MissPadme

 

I'm sure my siggy will give me away, but I thought Hayden did a great job as Anakin. The love scenes were meant to be that way. They hark back to the days when love stories were more formal, more courtly and less about trying to get into each others pants as fast as possible.

Most people who hate it seem to expect something more modern where they look at each other and are jumping each others bones in the next scene.

 

I love Hayden in this movie. I went into the film knowing nothing about him or the story. After many viewings of the film, I absolutely can?t picture anyone else who could play him.

First off, it?s obvious that HC spent hours watching the OT and TPM. When Anakin?s in a particularly cocky mode, Hayden stalks around the sets like Darth Vader. When he?s whining or emotionally vulnerable he behaves more like little Ani ? or even young Luke in ANH.

The times that he mimics Vader are my favorite. When they?re in Padme?s apartment and after he talked to Jar-Jar, he literally stalks towards the window, holds out his elbows to truly emphasize the width of his cape. The entire time he?s on Tatooine, he uses the cape, height, and posture to his full advantage. In those scenes- Hayden doesn?t have to say anything ? his body language conveys that the Dark Side/ Vader part of his personality is gaining strength.

One of the other things I will argue is that a lot has been said about Elijah Wood?s performance in the LOTR films where his wonderfully expressive eyes do more than half of his acting. I firmly believe that Hayden deserves the same kind of kudos for AOTC.

The most obvious cases are whenever he?s angry ? those chillingly angry eyes in the hut, or during the confession scene. But I?ll also argue that any other time in the film- his eyes tell everyone exactly what emotions are running through his soul.

Hayden wears his heart on his sleeve and his soul can easily be read through his eyes.

His eyes literally drip guilt when the Geonosians deliver he and Padme to Obi-Wan?s side on Geonosis.

Padme trembles under his wolfish stares, and she is utterly enchanted with him when his eyes are full of wonder and boyish hope.

Hayden?s eyes also express boundless depths of sorrow ? when he?s talking about his nightmares to Obi-Wan, right at the end of the fireplace scene, when he?s returning Shmi?s body, when he argues with Padme over why he can?t go after Obi-Wan, when Padme finally confesses her love for him, he?s dejected because of her ill-timing?even when he?s flying Padme?s shuttle and they?re looking for a landing place- he flashes Padme this sad look of utter longing.

If you truly pay attention to Hayden?s overall performance you?ll see that it?s not flat, but very rich and multi-layered. I actually think he?s the best actor from all of the films ? Ep 3 should solidify that belief.

As to delivery of his lines being ?wooden? ? all I can say is that I find his voice chilling to listen to. Hayden does an amazing job of speaking evenly without a lot of pitch variations. Why would this be important? Because that?s how VADER speaks. Vader?s voice is very even with very little differing inflection to his voice. GL specifically forced JEJ to cut out every bit of emotion from his voiceover work and Hayden does a great job of mirroring that, particularly the further along that the film progresses. Hayden even draws out some of his lines such that if you were to imagine Vader?s breathing overlaying his speech- you could hear Vader speaking the lines.

The scene where this is most noticeable is in the fireplace scene. He?s very even, and emotionless in how he delivers his lines. If you imagine it- you could perfectly hear Vader?s breathing over his voice. His delivery just adds this wonderful ominous layer of richness to the complexity of that scene. It?s chilling, disturbing and utterly wonderful all at the same time.

 

What she said ^ !! Exactly how I see it.

 

Ah the ever long debate if Hayden actually was good. Hayden is a great actor and you can tell by that if you've seen Life As A House. There has been so many debates about it.

His acting in Episode 2..was great. He showed the immaturity of Anakin. He showed the arragonce of Anakin. Hayden was so great and he did have great chemistry. Not saying that he is pretty cute...well yeah.

 

Hayden wears his heart on his sleeve and his soul can easily be read through his eyes.

That's beautiful, and so true..

 

All I have to say is Hayden will rock in Episode 3 as Anakin, just wait and see.

 

Emily's right, Hayden is awesome in Life As A House (esp. the shower scene!! )

Young Harrison and Hayden - they both just make me drool...

Old Harrison's pretty damn hot too lol!

 

Hayden is the greatest portrayal of Anakin I have ever seen. He aptly represents what the character is all about. He is a talented actor and has done very well for himself with his role in the Star Wars movies.

 

I hope Hayden Christensen comes to CELEBRATION III. He was great at CELEBRATION II.

 

Hayden was awesome in 'Clones and I reckon he'll be even better in Ep.III, one of my favourite actors in the entire Saga...

 

I hope he'll be at Celebration III too! I will try my absolute BEST to meet him, but he'd better bring a slew of bodyguards!

 

It is also a confidence-builder for Hayden's work in Episode III when his skills will really be put to the test.

I agree with this, GS....I have a feeling that Hayden might have been a little overwhelmed at first when he walked on to the set of AOTC...like, "Oh my God! I'm Anakin!"........Now, when he walked on to the set of Ep3 it was...."Look out, people! I AM Anakin!"

After doing a play in London and two other films in between the two SW films, I think Hayden will radiate confidence when we see him in Three.......

 

Hayden was really bad as Anakin in most of the movie. The love scenes were uncomfortable because I was embarrassed for the actors. That was probably the worst acting I've ever seen in a block-buster movie like Star Wars. I'm usually very protective of everythng Star Wars, but when AOTC came out and the critics tore Hayden and Padme's acting to shreds I had to agree. It was really really bad. (Except for the tattooine scenes). Also there was no chemistry, the two actors seemed so uncomfortable with each other and the lines that it was impossible to have sexual tension.

Ewan, Ian and Christopher Lee so outclassed the rest of the cast that it only further highlighted how bad the acting in AOTC was.

I also have to disagree about Harrison Ford being the best in he OT. Harrison Ford is my favorite actor but I never thought his acting in Star Wars was steller in fact in the ROTJ it was pretty dull. Even so he's 100 times better than Hayden was in AOTC. In the OT I thought Alec Guinness was the best by far.

As much as I hated his acting I dont think that Hayden was the worst, that honor goes to Natalie. I really don't know why they were so bad, I've seen both in other movies and they are average to good. I dont really blame George because the brits were able to be great with the same director. Also Natalie was pretty good in TPM.

I do have high hopes for Episode III and think that maybe as Hayden gains more experience and therefore confidence he'll be more believable in the role. It was a huge huge challenge for a young inexperienced actor to take on and unfortunately he didnt pull it off too well. He was okay in Shattered Glass, but again his co-star (Sarsden?) really outshined him.

 

I don't like the love scenes either (I also didn't think they had any chemistry), but I do understand why GL wanted them to be in a Shakespearean-like style.